Conrad presented preliminary findings from a series of experiments funded by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health examining how the use of virtual interviewers and interactive prompts can affect responses and data quality.

In one experiment, Conrad presented data on the impact of speeding through questionnaires, and how textual prompts triggered by this undesirable behavior actually reduced its frequency.

“You seem to have responded very quickly,” the prompt begins. “Please be sure you have given the question sufficient thought to provide an accurate answer. Do you want to go back and reconsider your answer?”

This kind of prompt can be very effective at slowing down respondents, Conrad said. “But it may lead respondents to feel that they are being monitored so we need to see if it increases people’s tendency to provide socially desirable answers to sensitive questions.”

Conrad also presented data showing that prompts improved accuracy in respondents with intermediate levels of education – associate degrees or some college.